Goa Carnival: 1 theme, 1 float this carnival

With a view to up the standards of the Goa carnival, the tourism ministry has decided to do away with floats displaying repetitive themes. Top ministry officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that issues of quality content were debated over at a meeting convened on Monday. “No two floats will depict the same scenes now. We are at an advantage this year, as we have started preparations early. In previous years, the organizers used to inspect the floats around four hours prior to the start of the parade to check if they have stuck to guidelines. However, this year the checks will be done days in advance,” sources added.

“For example, if two groups happen to design their float on sand erosion, we will intimate one group that the other, who had submitted their form earlier, are designing their float on the same theme. We will ask the second group to change the design,” tourism officials said. The participation forms have already been issued and will be available till January 21.

Monday’s meeting also discussed the issue of sponsored floats blatantly using the float for advertising their products. “Every sponsored float must have a theme that promotes culture. They cannot hire a long trailer, put up some decorations and have youngsters dancing to music around the product. They can have their products displayed on the side, but the float has to have a cultural theme,” sources added.

“We are working towards raising the profile of the carnival to a high standard,” officials said. The state government has decided to rope in reputed names in the cultural field to aid participants while designing floats for the carnival parade. “Besides this, we are in the process of hiring the services of an event management company that will ensure the street decor will be of high standards,” said officials. The government has also decided to have official carnival parades at its four main towns of Panaji, Mapusa, Vasco and Margao.